And the high-powered chief executive isn't frightened of getting his hands dirty.

So when he was invited to share a bit of grime time with a team of council workers before breakfast he leapt at the chance.

And last week he was caught in the act being... a dustbinman!

Who better to cop the big cheese doing the rounds but Express columnist Vic Barlow who simply thought one of the refuse collectors was the image of his boss.

"I was just about to say 'you'll never guess who you look like?' when I realised it WAS who he looked like. He was the real thing," he said. "David Parr was collecting garbage."

Later, after his secret life was exposed, Mr Parr said: "Of all the people in all the world I had to bump into Vic.

"I've been outed!"

But he added: "I regularly go out and about the borough. It's very easy to lose touch with the services that are being delivered."

And his reaction to his stint on the bins: "It was very interesting. It has reinforced my views that our binmen work extremely hard and deliver quality services to the public."

He added: "It also gave me an opportunity to study housing, inspect the pavements, talk to the public and listen to our binmen and hear their views. We went to places in Macclesfield where I have never been before.

"I couldn't get away from whom I am but I don't have it stamped on my forehead.

"Bosses don't always like it but to be fair to the boss he told me to tell him as it was and I said there would be no taboos. I shared confidences with the lads and I will honour them."

Mr Parr, 41, rose at 5.30am in order to clock on at 6.30am for the 7am shift.

He was briefed by his gaffer for the day Phil Levis on issues of safety - like discarded needles which are a hazard of the job - before they set off on their rounds collecting rubbish.

And then there was a quick bacon butty with the boys - and a brief chat about the job - before Mr Parr continued his six-hour shift.

Back at the Gas Street depot he showered and swapped his mucky overalls for an expensive dark suit, lilac checked shirt and purple tie and was back, the essence of elegance, in the corridors of power.

Later he confessed he liked to see council life at the sharp end. And he saw it all right as he battled against broken bottles, jagged tins and the more unpleasant hazards of the job.

"It was a bit like the day in my life as a chief executive," said Mr Parr. "Although not many people know that."

And to prove that even a town hall supremo is human he ended that very long day wearing his dad's hat. He went along to his children's school open night.

Meanwhile at the Gas Street Depot the crew was quietly impressed by the big boss's efforts as a hands-on member of the gang.

"He worked really hard," one said. "He just pulled up his sleeves and got stuck in."